Tension gripped the campus of Jadavpur University late Wednesday night following a violent clash between supporters of rival student organisations, leading to injuries and escalating political confrontation. According to reports, at least four members affiliated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were injured in the altercation and were subsequently admitted to a nearby private hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a General Body (GB) meeting called by the CPI(M)’s students wing, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and other Left-leaning student groups earlier in the day. ABVP members opposed the meeting, arguing that in the absence of an elected student union and without official guidelines from the state government regarding student council elections, such a gathering lacked legitimacy.
Tensions escalated when ABVP supporters staged a protest against the meeting. Allegations have been made that a group of approximately 70 to 80 launched a sudden attack on the protesting ABVP members, triggering a violent confrontation that witnesses described as chaotic.
Following the clash, local BJP MLA Sharbari Mukherjee visited the injured students at the hospital and later went to Jadavpur Police Station. She accused Left-wing organisations of deliberately instigating unrest on campus and issued a stern warning, specifically naming Left leader Srijan Bhattacharya.
ABVP supporters also staged a protest outside the police station on Thursday, demanding strict action against those responsible for the alleged attack. However, Srijan denied any involvement of the SFI in the incident. He claimed that ABVP members had disrupted an internal meeting of students, leading to a verbal altercation that escalated. He further stated that he was not in Kolkata at the time and insisted that SFI had no role in initiating the violence.
Calling for the immediate conduct of student union elections, Srijan argued that all student organisations, including ABVP, should contest democratically and accept the mandate of the student body.
He also alleged that the incident was politically motivated, drawing parallels with previous episodes of unrest on campus, including the vandalism of a Lenin statue. According to him, there is a deliberate attempt to create an atmosphere of fear and tension within the university.
Meanwhile, ABVP leaders have maintained that the attack was premeditated and carried out by members of SFI along with other Left-affiliated groups such as DSO and DSF.
Other student organisations have also weighed in with differing accounts. The Federation of Engineering and Technological Students’ Union (FETSU) alleged that ABVP members, along with individuals from outside the campus, initiated the violence. The Revolutionary Students’ Front (RSF) claimed that incidents of assault, brick-pelting, and arson took place, though these allegations have been denied by the ABVP.
In response to the incident, the Democratic Students’ Organisation (DSO) has called for a ‘Day of Condemnation’ protest on Thursday.
